Cleveland Cavaliers Team Notes

They officially signed swingman C.J. Miles to a reported two-year, $4 million contract on Aug. 8. He announced the signing on his Twitter account.

"Papers signed," he tweeted. "It's a done deal."

He is expected to provide backup minutes at small forward or shooting guard. There's a chance he could move into the starting lineup at small forward.

The deal doesn't preclude the Cavs from trying to re-sign swingman Alonzo Gee. The restricted free agent has yet to find a deal this summer. If the Cavs can't sign Gee to a multiyear deal, he could sign his $2.7 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Dion Waiters, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 draft, will be given every opportunity to win the starting job at shooting guard.

However, many think Miles is best suited to play the shooting guard spot. The 6-foot-6, 222-pounder certainly isn't shy about shooting. He's a 41.9 percent career shooter from the field and 32.9 percent from 3-point range.

The athletic Miles has played his entire seven-year career with the Utah Jazz. He averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 56 games (14 starts) for the Jazz last season and scored a season-high 27 points against Houston last Feb. 29. Miles scored a career-high 40 points against Minnesota on March 16, 2011.

He was Utah's second-round pick (34th overall) in the 2005 draft out of Skyline High School in Dallas.

Miles has averaged 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 389 games (159 starts). He should fit in well in Cavs coach Byron Scott's up-tempo attack.

He's a good spot-up shooter and more skilled offensively than Gee. Gee, however, is better defensively and is a far superior rebounder. That's why Gee might have the edge to start at the "3" spot.

The 6-6, 219-pound Gee started the last 31 games last season and averaged career highs in points (10.6), rebounds (5.1) and steals (1.3).

Not counting Gee, the Cavs have 15 players under contract heading into training camp.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Cavaliers signed C Micheal Eric to a contract, the team announced Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Eric, a 24-year-old rookie out of Temple, averaged 9.0 points and shot 52.1 percent his senior season with the Owls. He missed 13 games during the season with a fractured right patella.

The 6-foot-11, 240-pound Nigerian, played five games with the Cavaliers' Summer League squad. He averaged 4.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and shot 66.7 percent.

--There are seven teams that have never paid a cent in luxury tax (Chicago, Charlotte, Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Washington). The Cavs aren't one of them. They have paid $43 million in the three years after going to the NBA Finals: 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10, according to a story on ShamSports.com.

The luxury tax has been in existence for 11 years now. During that time, the Cavs are ranked sixth in paying tax. Only the New York Knicks ($195 million), Dallas Mavericks ($150 million), Portland Trail Blazers ($89 million), Los Angeles Lakers ($84 million) and Boston Celtics ($46 million) have paid more.

--The Cavaliers will play seven preseason games this fall, including three at Quicken Loans Arena. They will also host neutral-site games in Cincinnati and Canton.

They open the preseason on Oct. 8 against Italian basketball powerhouse Montepaschi Siena of the Euroleague. Next on the agenda is a matchup against Milwaukee at Canton Memorial Civic Center, home of the D-League Canton Charge, on Oct. 9.

They play their first road game on Oct. 12 at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill., against the Chicago Bulls. The Cavs will face Orlando on Oct. 15 at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. They also have home games at The Q against Washington on Oct. 13 and Indiana on Oct. 23. They open the 2012-13 regular season against Washington on Oct. 30.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "C.J. brings solid NBA experience to the team yet is still just entering his prime at 25. His ability to play multiple positions adds depth and flexibility to our roster." -- Cavs general manager Chris Grant on the signing of C.J. Miles.

ROSTER REPORT

PLAYER NOTES:

--A record 39 NBA players were featured on national team rosters for the 2012 Olympic Games, up from 28 in 2008. F-C Anderson Varejao was the only Cavs player who competed in the Olympics. He was a member of the Brazilian national team. Of the 12 teams that qualified for the Olympics, 11 had at least one current NBA player.

--The Cavs appear to be fortified at the point guard position. Coach Byron Scott likes having at least three players who can play the position on the roster. The Cavs currently have four. Kyrie Irving will be the starter. Donald Sloan and recently acquired Jeremy Pargo will battle for backup minutes. Daniel Gibson can also play the point in a pinch even though he's more of a shooting guard.

--F-C Anderson Varejao and F-C Tristan Thompson might play together in the starting lineup. Coach Byron Scott is intrigued by the defensive acumen of the two players. However, both are a bit offensively challenged. Teams might resort to sagging off both players and double-team G Kyrie Irving. Playing both Varejao and Thompson together might affect the spacing of the offense. Thompson has yet to prove he can make a jump shot. Varejao has improved in that area but is still lacking. That's why no one should be totally shocked if rookie C Tyler Zeller barges his way into a lot of playing time because he can make a 15-foot jumper.

DRAFT ADDITIONS:

--G Dion Waiters (6-4, Syracuse, first round, No. 4) is a pure scorer who has an NBA body. He's physical and can get to the basket. His jump shot is still a work in progress. He's expected to move into the starting lineup next to Kyrie Irving in the Cavs backcourt. He didn't start a game at Syracuse but was on the floor during crunch time.

--C Tyler Zeller (7-0, North Carolina, first round, No. 17, rights acquired from Dallas) is the big man the Cavs coveted. The Cavs thought they needed to come out of the draft with a legitimate big man. They found him in Zeller. The Cavs sent three draft picks, Nos. 24, 33 and 34, to the Dallas Mavericks for Zeller. He's not flashy but is very consistent.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Kyrie Irving (right hand) had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on July 18. It will wipe out the rest of his summer. The Cavs say he'll return for the start of training camp.

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